| Type: | Stadt |
| Image Coa: | Wappen von Bad Kötzting.svg |
| Coordinates: | 49.1769°N 12.855°W |
| Image Plan: | Bad Kötzting in CHA.svg |
| State: | Bayern |
| Region: | Oberpfalz |
| District: | Cham |
| Elevation: | 409 |
| Area: | 62.17 |
| Postal Code: | 93444 |
| Area Code: | 0 99 41 |
| Licence: | CHA, KÖZ, ROD, WÜM |
| Gemeindeschlüssel: | 09 3 72 137 |
| Website: | www.bad-koetzting.de |
| Mayor: | Markus Hofmann[1] |
| Leader Term: | 2020 - 26 |
| Party: | FW |
Bad Kötzting (pronounced as /de/; before 2005: Kötzting; Northern Bavarian: Bad Ketzing) is a town in the district of Cham, in Bavaria, Germany, near the Czech border. It is situated in the Bavarian Forest, 15km (09miles) southeast of Cham.
Bad Kötzting has the charming character of a small town and offers quite a variety of attractions for tourists.The locals pride themselves with having one of the largest mounted religious processions in the world, the "Kötztinger Pfingstritt".Legend has it that in the year 1412, a man who got injured during forestry was asking for the last rites before dying in a village approximately 7km (04miles) away from Kötzting. The local priest was unable to comply with the wishes of the man because he needed protection from bears, wolves, and other dangers luring along the way. After asking the young men of the village to protect him, they accompanied the priest to the dying man. After a safe journey, the participants vowed to repeat the ride every year. That is how it remained ever since. Every Whit Monday, the ride of over 900 horses and riders is repeated. The horses wear ornaments and the riders wear traditional Bavarian clothes. The ride starts in Kötzting and goes to the village "Steinbühl", where according to the legend, the man asking for anointment, was dying. Only men from the region are allowed to participate in the procession, the participating horses, however, come from all over Bavaria.[2] The annual fair is also in town when the procession takes place. A local "Bierzelt" and numerous rides invite the public.
Impressions from the Kötztinger Pfingstritt, 2001[3]
Bad Kötzting is divided into 51 districts:
There are nine Gemarkungen within the municipality area: Arndorf, Bad Kötzting, Gehstorf, Haus, Liebenstein, Sackenried, Traidersdorf, Weißenregen und Wettzell.[4]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany. Bad Kötzting is a founding member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of towns across the European Union, including United Kingdom. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals. Other members of Douzelage are:[6]
Agros, Cyprus
Altea, Spain
Asikkala, Finland
Bellagio, Italy
Bundoran, Ireland
Chojna, Poland
Granville, France
Houffalize, Belgium
Judenburg, Austria
Kőszeg, Hungary
Marsaskala, Malta
Niederanven, Luxembourg
Oxelösund, Sweden
Preveza, Greece
Rokiškis, Lithuania
Sherborne, United Kingdom
Sigulda, Latvia
Siret, Romania
Škofja Loka, Slovenia
Sušice, Czech Republic
Türi, Estonia
Zvolen, Slovakia